Captivating Seaweed Prints Showcase the Wonders of Underwater Life | Science

When Oriana Poindexter made the move to San Diego back in 2013, she found the kelp forests that lined the coastline to be somewhat of a hindrance. While enjoying the peaceful glide of her longboard along the waves, her leash would often become entangled in the thick seaweed beneath the surface. However, over time, these kelp forests would become much more than an obstacle for Poindexter. They would become her inspiration and the focus of her career.

Poindexter, a visual arts graduate from Princeton University, had always used her camera to explore artistic subjects. During her time studying at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in 2014, she began diving in the kelp forest every day, capturing stunning images with her Nikonos camera. The kelp forest and its inhabitants became her muse.

In 2018, Poindexter attended a cyanotype workshop where she learned to process her digital negatives differently. Cyanotype printing, an ancient form of film development, produces cyan-blue prints using a light-sensitive solution. However, when Poindexter tried to replicate the details of the kelp forest in a cyanotype, she found that they were lost on the small paper. But six months later, she had an epiphany – she could expose the algae directly on huge pieces of paper.

Collecting pieces of kelp from her dives, Poindexter began creating life-size cyanotypes, capturing the intricate textures of the seaweed in great detail. These pieces became records of the kelp forests beneath the surface.

In 2021, Poindexter left her job as a fisheries economics analyst to focus on her art full-time. She now collects kelp species from around the world and hosts art shows to share the beauty and importance of the kelp forests with others.

In an interview, Poindexter explains her love for cyanotypes, describing how they allow her to physically connect with the environment and create records of the shifting ecosystems. She also shares her process for creating cyanotypes, including treating her own paper with a light-sensitive emulsion and exposing it to sunlight with collected kelp on top. She embraces the scientific and experimental aspects of her art, allowing the natural elements to play a role in the final outcome.

When asked about her inspiration, Poindexter reflects on the history of women exploring their environment through botany and the connection she feels to those who documented seaweed in the past. She sees her cyanotypes as a continuation of that tradition, capturing the beauty and importance of the kelp forests for future generations.

Overall, Poindexter’s unique and creative approach to photography and her dedication to capturing the essence of the kelp forests make her work stand out. Through her cyanotypes, she brings the underwater world to the surface, creating a powerful visual record of these vital ecosystems.

 

Reference

Denial of responsibility! TechCodex is an automatic aggregator of the all world’s media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.

Denial of responsibility! TechCodex is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.